Freedom of Information Requests
Pursuant to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, individuals can request access to any record held by government institutions, including a local police service. Requests for copies of records that exist within the files of this police service are made through the Information and Privacy Unit.
The most common types of requests processed by the Information and Privacy Unit are:
- General Occurrence Reports
- Records of Arrest
- Police related 911 emergency calls
The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act permits the right of access to any of your own personal information contained in the files of the Windsor Police Service, however, the Act does not permit you to obtain the personal information of other individuals unless written consent is granted from the affected individuals.
Depending on what is being requested and if the release of information would be deemed an invasion of another individual’s personal privacy, it would be reasonable to expect that the personal information of the other individuals involved may be severed. This is done in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
If the records requested relate to an incident that did not involve you, and you were not spoken to during our investigation, it is highly unlikely that access to the records will be granted.
Some records are available without making a request under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Records available for purchase at the Information Services Reception Counter:
- Police Criminal Record Checks
- Insurance Confirmation Requests
Records available for purchase at the Collision Reporting Centre (2696 Jefferson Blvd) 519 944-6261:
- Motor Vehicle Accident Reports
To make an access request:
In person:
An access request can be made by attending the Information Services Reception Counter at 150 Goyeau St, Windsor, completing an Access Request Form and paying the $5.00 application fee. You must provide 2 pieces of identification (see acceptable identification below).
Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (excluding holidays) – LAST REQUEST PROCESSED AT 3:45 PM
By mail:
A request can be made by submitting a written letter or by completing an Access Request Form and mailing this to us along with a cheque payable to the City of Windsor, in the amount of $5.00 for the application fee. Addressed as follows:
Information & Privacy Unit
Windsor Police Service
150 Goyeau Street
P.O. Box 60
Windsor, Ontario N9A 6J5
If you live out of province and cannot attend in person to provide identification, you must submit a copy of 2 pieces of government issued identification along with your written request or
Access Request Form
Your lawyer may act as your personal agent and apply for access, however, the same access rules apply whether it is you yourself or your lawyer that is making the request.
Pursuant to section 17(1)(c) and section 5.2 of the Regulation 823 of the Act, an application fee of $5.00 is to be paid upon submission of each request. We accept cash or cheque. If paying by cheque, please make your cheque payable to the City of Windsor.
In addition to the initial $5.00 (non-refundable) application fee, there may be additional fees upon completion. Some examples of additional fees charged are: 0.20 cents per page for photocopying, $7.50 per 15 minutes of search time, $7.50 per 15 minutes for preparation time and mailing costs according to current Canada Post rates.
Processing time is between 30 and 60 days. A request that does not require us to contact third parties would be completed within a 30 day period as mandated by the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Where a report is needed sooner, this information can be conveyed to us and where possible will be accommodated, however, records can also be subpoenaed if they are needed for a court and our method of access is not practicable.
Provided we have initially seen you and your identification and you have submitted written authorization, you can authorize someone else to pick up your package.Your letter must state that you are authorizing the Windsor Police Service to release your sealed FOI package to a named individual.
Correcting Information about yourself:
The Act provides that individuals have the right to correct their own personal information if it is in error. This applies only to personal information to which the requester has been given access. After access has been granted to personal information, the individual has the right to request.
- Correction of personal information;
- A statement of disagreement be attached to the record;
- Notification of correction or disagreement be sent to those to whom his/her personal information was disclosed within the previous year. The right of correction applies only to personal information which an individual is provided access.
Requesters must complete an Access/Correction Request Form and remit a $5.00 payment.
The Service decides whether the correction will be made. Once a decision has been made the Privacy Coordinator will notify the requester. These decisions may be appealed to the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
Helpful links
Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
Information & Privacy Commissioner
Regulation 823 of the Act
CanLii